Review: Firelight

Firelight

By Sophie Jordan

Publication date: September 7, 2010

My review:

Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons able to shift into human form. Her pride values Jacinda because she is a rare fire breather. Since her father's death, they are even more protective and controlling of her. Jacinda loves to fly and in one moment of recklessness she breaks a rule that could expose their secret to humans and she is spotted by dragon hunters. Forced to flee to the desert with her mother and sister, Jacinda tries to fit in at her new school but she is shocked to come face to face with Will, the handsome young hunter who saw her in dragon form. Jacinda and Will are drawn to each other but the closer Jacinda gets to Will the more danger that the truth will be revealed.

The YA paranormal market is saturated with books about vampires, werewolves, and angels so it is refreshing to read a paranormal romance about dragons. Firelight is more than just the typical impossible love scenario. Jacinda struggles to figure out where she belongs and who she is. She also has to deal with family issues-her mom has chosen not to manifest in her draki form and allowed that part of herself to die away and her sister Tamra never manifested in the first place. Both of them want Jacinda to let go of the draki part of herself and embrace humanness. There is also the pride which would like to force Jacinda to mate with their alpha so that there will be more firebreathers.

Will is a sympathetic character as well as a hunter who does not want to hunt dragons with his bloodthirsty family. Their romance is incredibly intense. Jacinda practically  burns for Will (when she gets emotional or scared her draki self emerges and she starts to transform) and although it appears to be love at first sight the relationship is given time to develop. I think the world that Sophie Jordan has created with draki living alongside humans and hunters is very well realized. The ending is a cliffhanger that will leave readers anticipating the sequel. 

Readalikes: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause, Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey